Air-conditioning unit



u March 17, 1970 J. w. JOHNSON 3,500,657

AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT Filed June 3, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @Gum ATTORNEY March 17, 1970 J. w. JoHNsoN AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1968 OOOO OOOOO n hun OOOOO OOOOO FIG. 5.

FIG. 4.

FIG. 6.

INvErrroR.A JOHN. w. JOHNSON BY @www c..

ATTORNEY United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 62-428 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a new and improved portable air-conditioning unit. The Structural elements of the unit include an enclosure which provides an air inlet, and air outlets. A condenser and evaporator, respectively, lie within the air ow paths through the outlets. A compressor and fan can -be energized via virtually any convenient source of power to transfer heat to and from and blow air across both the condenser and evaporator. An adjustably mounted baille or vane is preferably used to regulate the ilow of air from the fan, causing it to llow over the condenser and evaporator in optimum proportions.

In certain environments, particularly during the extreme cold of Winter or the extreme heat of summer, there is need for air conditioning. In the heat of summer, eg., the interiors of certain vehicles, e.g., airplanes, boats, trailers and the like, become uncomfortably hot. In certain situations this condition persists even when the vehicle is properly equipped with an air-conditioning systern. Thus, e.g., until theplane is airborne its relatively complex air conditioning, or primary, unit cannot function until its engines are generating suilicient power. This means in most instances, of course, that passengers must endure the interim discomfort.

Often, also, it is necessary that work be performed in uncomfortably warm or cold spaces or zones. Because of the urgency of the situation, the work cannot often be delayed. Sometimes, e.g., workers or repair men must spend several hours or days in a tunnel or manhole below a street. The discomfort and unpleasantness of the situation must be borne because of the impracticality of providing a more or less permanent air-conditioning installation.

In view of these and other dilllculties, and because of the need for fresh air in these and other situations, it is an object of the present invention to advance the state of the art by providing a new and improved portable air-conditioning unit. In particular, it is an object to provide a highly durable and eilicient unit of relatively simple construction for independently mounting and ease of transport to a location for use in conditioning a space or zone by warming or cooling. More particularly, it is an object to provide a portable air-conditioning unit admirably suitable for providing warm or cold air in large volumes on short demand.

These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention which comprises, in a combination: an enclosure or casing which contains air inlet and air outlets, a condenser and an evaporator each located within or adjacent to `an air outlet. The condenser and evaporator are connected through a compressor for circulating refrigerant to effect proper heat exchange. A single fan draws air from the inlet and blows it over the condenser and evaporator. Both the fan and the cornpressor are powered by the same source.

A pivotally mounted baille or vane is preferably used to regulate or proportion the ilow of air from the fan across the condenser and evaporator, and through the respective outlets.

A key and novel feature of the invention resides in its 3,500,657 Patented Mar. 17, 197C ICC extreme simplicity. The number of component parts ha: been reduced to an absolute minimum. A single fan draw: air from an inlet into the enclosing housing, the air con tacting the condenser and evaporator upon passing through the outlets. The ilow can be proportioned b1 regulating the resistance provided by a respective outlet as by sizing the outlets. A particularly preferred combi nation is one which includes a single fan and proportioning vane by virture of which air from the fan can bt readily regulated to llow across both condenser anc' evaporator, and through the outlets, in the desired pro` portions, such installation including both fan and com pressor mounted in the same train, and driven by the same power source.

The invention will be better understood by reference tc the following detailed description and to the attacher drawings to which reference is made in the description.

In the figures:

FIGURE l is a side elevation View of a preferrecl embodiment.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view taken along section 2 2 oi the preceding ligure, these figures showing the combination of a single fan and compressor mounted on the same shaft, and driven by the same power source; including also the combinati-on of a single fan and proportioning vane for regulating and proportioning the flow of intake air across both the condenser :and evaporator.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view depicting a structure for proportioning intake air across both the condenser and evaporator without use of a proportioning vane.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation view taken along section 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of a sub-assembly for positioning the vane, the view being taken along section 5 5 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the internals of the condenser and evaporator in relationship to the compressor, fan and power Source.

Referring to FIGURE l is shown a housing or casing 10 provided with an air inlet 11 and air outlets 12, 13. The housing is formed into two compartments by the partitioning wall 8 provided with a central opening 9. The air inlet 11 (-or a plurality thereof), shown positioned at the rear of the casing 10, if desired, can be located in the forward portion of the rear compartment; or even in the forward compartment, as will be subsequently discussed. A condenser 14 and evaporator 15 are located within air outlets, 12, 13, respectively, of the forward compartment.

A fan 16, extending into the opening 9, and gasoline motor 17 are -mounted on a common shaft 18, which is coupled or geared to a compressor 7. Exhaust gas is vented from motor 17 via escape through the exhaust tube 171. The source of power can lbe an electric motor, gasoline motor, steam engine, steam turbine, or the like.

Preferably, a vane or baille 4 is provided to regulate and proportion the ilow of air through the forward compartment. The vane 4 is pivotally connected, or hinged via a hinge 5, to the upper and lower walls of casing 10 and located between outlets 12, 13. The vane 4 can be pivotally moved either to the left or right via movement of the arm 3 (FIGURE 5) riding within the slot 1 to proportion and regulate the flow of air from fan 16 across the condenser 14 and evaporator 15. Thus, warm air and cool air, respectively, can be conveyed through the outlets 12, 13. Where, e.g., it is desired to deliver cold air through outlet 13, the optimum cooling is determined by positioning the vane 4 and, when determined, the position of the vane is set by tightening down set screw 2.

In cooling a vehicle, eg., the unit can be conveniently iounted and transported on a dolly (not shown), conected up with a convenient power' source, and cold air an be delivered via a conduit connected between the out- :t 13 and the space or zone to lbe cooled. Only ambient ir is pulled into the unit Via inlet 11, and there is no reycle of air from the space or zone being cooled.

Referring to FIGURE 3 there is shown the forward sec- I[on of an air conditioning unit using a different principle or proportioning air between a condenser and evaporaar. In this embodiment, a fan 26 is mounted within an ir intake opening 29 located within a forward compartient of a casing 20 divided by a partitioning wall 08. `he fan 26, mounted on a shaft 28 and operatively conected through a coupling 06 to a gasoline motor 27, .raws air into the compartment and distributes it between he condenser 24 and evaporator 25 as determined by the unctional resistance offered by the predetermined size if, the openings 22, 23. In this embodiment there is no varming of the intake air as by contact with a hot motor r compressor which, where cold air is the important facor, provides some advantage in increased efficiencies. Thus, there is no need to shield these elements or to reosition the inlet 11 (FIGURES 1 and 2) upstream of hese elements where increased eiciency is desired.

Referring to FIGURE 6 is shown a diagrammatic view llustrating the relationship between the compressor and he condenser and evaporator. A line 141 thus contains suitable coil 14, constituting the heat exchange element lf the condenser, and a line 151 contains a suitable coil 5,' constituting the heat exchange element of the evapoator. Lines 141 and 151, each of which connects directly o the compressor 7, are coupled together through a contant pressure regulator. A drier 04 is generally provided. lefrigerant is compressed or condensed within coil 14 o liberate heat, and is expanded or evaporated under reluced pressure within coil 15 to absorb heat. Air is varmed or cooled, respectively, by passage over the coils.

fThe clutch 6 provides a means whereby the unit can be )perated without heating or cooling the intake air. This is lseful when this ambient air being taken in, and blown Jut through either coil, is at the proper temperature, vithout modification.

A transition duct or fixture and attached flexible hose shown in FIGURE 3 in broken lines) is positioned at )utlet 13 to convey or transport the cooled air from coil l5 lor at outlet 12 to convey or transport the heated air 'rom coil 14 to any desired location.

:.It is apparentl that various modifications and changes a casing provided with air inlet and air outlets,

a condenser and an evaporator, each located at an air outlet,

a compressor' for circulating a refrigerant via appropriate lines between the condenser and evaporator,

a single fan for drawing air into the casing,

means for regulating and proportioning the intake air from the fan across the condenser and evaporator, and through the outlets,

a single drive train on which both the compressor and fan are operated,

a single power source for driving the compressor and fan.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the casing is divided into two compartments by a partitioning wall containing an opening, the air inlet compressor and power source are located within one compartment, and the fan islocated at the opening to provide intake air to the adjacent compartment which contains the condenser and evaporator.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the air inlet is 'located to the rear of the compartment containing the compressor and power source.

f4. VThe apparatusf claim 2 wherein a movable vane is provided in the adjacent compartment between the condenser and evaporator to regulate and proportion the amount of air flowing over these respective members.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the movable vane is provided with a connecting arm external to the casing, action upon which causes movement of the vane.

, 6.'.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the casing is dividedv into two compartments Iby a partitioning wall, the compressor and power source are located within one compartment, the fan is located within an air intake opening in4 the adjacent compartment, and the outlets are sized toregulate and proportion the amount of air flowing over the condenser and evaporator.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an outlet is provided with a transition duct and flexible hose for conveying the conditioned air to a desired location.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,115,294 4/1938 Woodruff 62--429 2,130,089 9/1938 Hull 62-262 2,441,270 5/1948 Hoesel 62-325 2,796,822 6/ 1957 Nikolajevic 62-262 WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 62-262, 325, 408 

